Built around included shore excursions that immerse you in each destination through exclusive access to cultural experiences, our river cruises explore the very heart of Europe: along entire length of the Danube from the North Sea to the Black Sea; the Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers in Germany; the Albert and Main-Danube canals; and the Rhône, Saône and Seine rivers in France.

The Tauck Destination Fleet features spacious, comfortable cabins and suites; personalised service rivaling that of a premium hotel; fine European-style shipboard dining with a choice of dining venues; and up to four times the number of suites as other European lines. Our custom-designed riverboats include four 361-foot ships – newly redesigned to carry a maximum of 98 guests – and four 443-foot ships accommodating no more than 130 guests.

Intimate, Sophisticated Ambiance
Maintaining the same high standards of comfort and quality we’ve featured aboard our ships since Tauck River Cruising began, Tauck’s custom-designed Destination Fleet carries on our tradition of providing more space per guest for an intimate, sophisticated onboard ambiance.

Our river cruise experience revolves around four cornerstones: Uncommon Access on our included shore excursions blending in-depth sightseeing with Tauck Exclusives; Distinctively Inclusive Value, with virtually every expense included in one upfront price; Travel in Good Company with caring service from four Tauck staff on every cruise; and the Sophisticated, Intimate Ambiance of our custom-designed riverboats

ms Esprit - 2017

You'll find ms Esprit is the perfect riverboat to cruise Europe's most famous rivers – the Rhine, Main and Danube. She transports you to wine tastings... gala evenings... fairy tale castles and stately palaces... old-world cities rich in centuries-old architecture and arts... and some of the world's favourite cities... Amsterdam... Vienna... Budapest...

Phone

Brochure

Newsletter

To Book Call Tauck or Your Travel Agent

Our knowledgeable travel are here to answer your questions and help book your next trip - call us today at
0800-810-8020.

Thank you!

Welcome Aboard ms Esprit

One of five 361-foot (110-meter) riverboats in Tauck's Destination Fleet, ms Esprit accommodates no more than 118 guests, while similar-sized riverboats average about 160. Guest amenities inside her 14 lush 300-square-foot Tauck Suites include brocade upholstery, roomy walk-in closets with built-in drawers, spacious bathrooms with marble accents, and two French balconies with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to idyllic riverscapes. She also sports seven 183-square-foot cabins, similarly furnished. Standard cabins (150 square feet) are cozy and comfortable and are similar in décor and style to our larger suites. 85% have floor-to-ceiling windows with real French balconies that open on to a balcony in the fresh air; all have in-room movies, minibar, adjustable heating and cooling, private bathroom and shower with pampering toiletries.

Indescribable Comfort

We couldn’t find just the right words to describe the sumptuous bedding and amenities we custom ordered for your in-cabin cruising comfort... 400-thread-count satin bed linens made from the finest combed cotton... puffy white duvets and pillows of very fine mako cotton, with a hypoallergenic 90% down filling... 100% cotton blankets, temperature balancing and so soft to the skin... and thick pillow-top mattresses that lull you to sleep... along with the Essentials Line of Molton Brown bath products, exclusive to Tauck... absorbent terry cloth robes and fluffy towels... hair dryers... but we do know they are key for waking up refreshed and relaxed for your travelling pleasure.

Refrigerator stocked with complimentary water and soft drinks replenished daily

32” LED TV

220v and 110v outlets in cabin and bathroom

Two chairs plus a desk

Built-in closet with drawers

Easy under-bed luggage storage

Telephone, safe and individual climate control

Onboard wi-fi available

A Typical Day Aboard ms Esprit

Your day starts with breakfast onboard… sharing your favourite table by the window with the couple you became friends with at your welcome dinner… enjoying your favourite buffet selections just the way you like them… along with great views of the sprawling vineyards blanketing the banks of this fabled French river, and lighthearted conversation with your companions. The riverboat docks right around the time you’re finished with breakfast; you couldn’t have asked for better timing…

As you step off the ship, our local experts eagerly await to show you around the ancient village they call home, a place whose wine-making traditions stretch back over a thousand years; soon it may feel like home to you as well. You’ll spend the morning exploring with your local guide, discovering the ruins of Roman amphitheatres cut into hillsides along quiet rural lanes, so different from those back home. You might decide to join the locals for a glass of pastis and a friendly game of pétanque before returning to the riverboat to continue your cruise. If it’s a warm day, the ship’s staff will greet you with a cool towel and a cold drink upon your return (or hot towels and a hot drink if it’s a tad chilly). Maybe you’ll indulge in a glass of local wine as the riverboat sets off and you wave farewell to the village you just got to know… and love.

Back aboard, you’ll have some time to explore your “floating hotel.” You spot the couple from this morning about to take a dip in the Jacuzzi. “Like to join us?” they ask. You say you’d love to, and are soon relaxing and chatting as you bask in the sun, sipping a cool drink. Refreshed, you head into the lobby just in time to watch the riverboat dock; you might taste your way through a picturesque riverside town, sampling the wares of artisan chocolatiers and a baker who shares a few secrets from his pâtissierie – perhaps enjoying a wine tasting with the owners of a private local vineyard.

Lunch today might be something you have never experienced before… like a home-hosted, traditional meal at a private ranch, known as a manade, in La Camargue. As you make your way across the plains and marshlands of this wild corner of Provence, your Tauck Director and local guide fill you in on the culture that surrounds you. Arriving at the family-owned ranch, your hosts introduce you to the gardians – the cowboys who raise the region’s feisty black bulls, and who demonstrate their time-honored skills for you – and invite you to share a festive meal complete with tasty Provençal specialties, wine and folklore. The couple you had breakfast with joins you, bringing along some new friends who join in the fun. You don’t want it to end, but alas, it must… another Tauck experience to check off on the “wow” list…

Returning to the riverboat, you notice the lights reflecting on the river, and engage in a few moments’ reflection of your own… taking in the magic of the riverscape one last time. Back onboard, after a delicious dinner enjoyed with new friends, you take a moment to send a quick note about your day to the folks back home, then meet your companions for a little more camaraderie around the piano in the lounge before calling it a night. Later, drifting off to sleep, you smile… realizing that you’ll soon be waking up in another magical town… to embark on another perfect day of your Tauck river cruise…

Quick Info

Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat - Southbound

Walking / standing for one to two miles at a time, uneven steps & cobblestones.

Pace:Level 2

Moderate – with some early morning starts.

Group Size: > 40

Departures

2018

May

August

June

September

July

October

Special Solo Traveller Savings

Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers!

Quick Info

The Romantic Rhine: Basel to Amsterdam - Northbound

Walking / standing for one to two miles at a time, uneven steps & cobblestones.

Pace:Level 2

Moderate – with some early morning starts.

Group Size: > 40

Departures

2018

April

September

August

Special Solo Traveller Savings

Special Solo Traveller Savings – No Single Supplement in Category 1: On all departures, the single price in Category 1 is the same as the double price – no single supplement, which means savings of up to 50% for solo travellers!

Departures

2018

Special Solo Traveller Savings

Dine on fine, freshly prepared cuisine with regional wines and beer included at lunch and dinner onboard, with attentive, friendly service – plus regional treats and tastings – as you enjoy great views of the passing scenery in our panoramic main dining room.

Looking for something different during free time ashore? Your Tauck riverboat is equipped with bicycles that you and your companions can use for independent exploration along the riverside, past lush vineyards, through a historic village or wherever your heart takes you.

Whether you’re looking to make a gala night ashore last just a little longer after your return to the riverboat, swap stories of the day’s adventures, or enjoy a nightcap with new friends you just met at dinner, the lounge is a perfect place to kick back and relax.

As you cruise, the riverboat’s comfortable public spaces are ideal spots for socializing or simply relaxing as you glide past the remarkable scenery along Europe’s rivers – meeting your shipmates for a cocktail, kicking back in the Jacuzzi or chatting as you bask in the sun.

The gracious aft lounge in the stern of your riverboat sports an innovative 180° curved glass wall that opens to the fresh air (weather permitting) – and doubles as a second dining venue featuring classic favorites and lighter fare.